Quote:Dereck, you are turning into the lovechild of Stone Cold Steve Austin and Bob The Builder

That's funny.

Tuesday, August 8, 2006

Was originally planning on going to class but things did not workout as I got caught up in ... you guessed it ... my deck from 5:30 to 8:30. Hopefully this weekend it will be done.

Wednesday, August 9, 2006 - Week 408, Day 1081

Skipped work today and went golfing instead at Ironhead out by Wabamum, Alberta. Front 9 sucked bad but the back 9 I rocked. Had a few drinks on the course and then went out for supper. Got home and mowed the lawn and then it was time to hit the weights.

I haven't worked on this PULL exercise plan since 2 weeks ago and I increased my Lat Pulldowns by 3 lbs and had more reps, increased by reps with the Bent-Over Rows, increased my reps with the bicep curls and definitely increased my weight and reps with the Shoulder Shrugs. I have however been using these muscles when building "the deck" so I should not be surprised about my increases.

I do however have a problem. I'm right handed but over the years my left arm has become stronger them my right. When doing my bicep curls I go off of my right bicep and when it is done I repeat the exact same reps for my left. The thing is I can pull off more reps with my left still. Where I could only do 5 with my right, I know I could have easily pulled off 7 with my left. Everything inside me says keep this even and don't off set the reps.

DERECK'S QUESTION: Do you agree with this or should I be pushing my left till tired as well?

Tomorrow I have to go to class and since it will be raining there is no excuses.

_________________________"IF I COME ... I'M BRINGING THE PAIN WITH ME"

Quote:DERECK'S QUESTION: Do you agree with this or should I be pushing my left till tired as well?

This is very common. You use your dominant hand for fine motor function, whilst the other you rely on for gross motor function, over time this prevalent trend in usage leads to most people having better raw strength in their non dominant side.

Stick with what you are doing- always work to the best ability of your weaker side, and merely match it with your stronger side. This gives maximum stimulation where needed, and maintenance stimulation where appropriate, thus working towards a physical balance. To do opposite to this will just increase the imbalance.

Exciting thing is that after over 2 years of training at home, I took the plunge and joined a gym again! We get very cheap membership of a decent facility through work, and Deni's rehab has reached a stage where she can really benefit from a gym membership. we have our induction on wednesday (bizarre for me quite honestly, but I understand why its compulsory), and then I am a kiddie in a sweet shop once again

Went to class today. Not many people there with only my Instructor and his wife (also Instructor), one 1st Dan, myself and two red belts. Light workout, stretch out on our own and then we practiced patterns. If you missed up anywhere in your pattern then you had to do 10 push ups ... I did a lot of push up. Then One-Step Sparring drills with your partner (my Instructor's Wife) and then we called it a class. Because I'm training for my black belt test, I stayed and did all of the patterns until I got them right.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Going tonight to pick up the last of the wood for my deck to make the railing and stairs. If still time and in the mood then I will do my leg day. Plan to finish deck Saturday weather depending, Sunday will be an actual day of rest though I know I have to fill all of the holes my wife has made over the years before she paints. Inside is a disaster as well as we have ripped out all of the carpets and plan to paint before our laminent comes in on the 20th. Then Monday back to the grind of class and working out.

_________________________"IF I COME ... I'M BRINGING THE PAIN WITH ME"

4 circuits of the above, done at work. we look after an unused building and are up there 3 hours at a time. The kettlebell work is done using a big vice from the workshop- weighs approx 15-18 kg , the chins are done on a low support roof beam, and the table is a wide coffe table from reception.

Quote:I like how you use whatever you find available, Cord. I think that you'll never go wanting for equipment.

The downside is that I never have an excuse to take it easy

Dereck continues to get sucked into the dark arts of DIY, though why he cant do a squat/decking superset is beyond me In all seriousness, manual labour is a great variation on training if done with intensity.

Today was a funny one for me, my brain was telling me to cycle and use the heavy bag, but i had a compulsion to do a weighted circuit instead.

Wearing weighted vest:DipsWide chinsKettlebell swingsShrugs

My kettlebell swings are done with old an fashioned weight block- kind of like an anvil with a handle in the top of it. They weigh 25kilos. Today i put two together and ran a short metal bar through the handles, then put a couple of 5 kg plates either side, creating a compact 60kg weight that I held in a overhand grip, like close grip front raise.I made sure I sank real deep and drove hard to get the weight past shoulder height with arms at almost full extension. Glutes, hams, lower back and delts were in flames from this increase in weight, not to mention the oxygen debt was a b1tch

Glad I listened to my gut as this was one of the crispest workouts I have had in a while, I was firing off reps much stronger than yesterday without the vest. I think I am getting psyched about getting back into a gym. I will still train mostly at home, but its going to be nice to have access to a bigger range of kit if I feel like it